Coffee table books

An endless expanse of shimmering waters paired with unmatched Greek hospitality awaits visitors to the islands of the Aegean Sea. Each island is home to a unique spirit and mythology. From Patmos (a favorite of Aga Khan) to Hydra (which captivated Henry Miller, Leonard Cohen and Sophia Loren), the islands are imbued with a seductive sense of history, tradition and adventure. Several films over the decades have been filmed on them, including Boy on a Dolphin (1957) on Hydra, The Big Blue (1988) on Amorgos and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) on Santorini. Sources of inspiration for millennia, the ancient ruins, cliffside monasteries and volcanic rims are all can’t-miss sights.

“The Hamptons” is synonymous with luxury. Simply mentioning the name conjures images of poolside soirées, grandiose waterfront estates and endless days on the beach socializing with the upper echelon. But before this famed peninsula became the summer haunt of the glitterati, its forty miles of rolling sand dunes provided the perfect landscape for English settlers. Once New York high society caught wind of the charming hamlets and salty air, its members—from the Fords to the Vanderbilts—soon turned The Hamptons into a summer oasis. Next came the creatives seeking solitude, a place to write and sketch, away from the urban cacophony. John Steinbeck in Sag Harbor. Jackson Pollock in the Springs. And Andy Warhol in Montauk. Now, Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Calvin Klein, Madonna, Alec Baldwin and Martha Stewart all enjoy Hamptons homes. They may come from different realms, but what’s one thing all Hamptonites, honorary or official, can agree on? The locale boasts a unique allure—one that morphs to meet the desires of its next seasonal guest or lifelong dweller.

As fashion editor and friend André Leon Talley writes in the introduction, “Valentino Garavani designs his luncheons and dinners, in all of his homes, the way he has created crescendos and allegros vivace throughout his forty-plus-year career as one of the greatest haute couture designers and high-fashion leaders in the world.”
Beauty and entertaining have long been passions of Valentino. “I am in love with beauty,” he admits in the book’s opening. “I have always loved beautiful objects.” Though beyond the tangible objets d’art housed in each of his residences, Valentino’s excellence as a host is defined by the warmth and joy he creates for his guests.

During his time as a student at London’s Central Saint Martins, Gibraltar-born British fashion designer John Galliano worked as a dresser at the National Theatre, learning the art of costume and the power of illusion. As a regular in London nightclubs, Galliano met a coterie of artists and colorful personalities, forging strong ties with kindred spirits who would play a decisive role in his career – among which Stephen Jones, who would become Dior’s milliner.

For more than a century, Rolex stands apart as the most coveted and most legendary brand of watches in the world. A Rolex connotes many things: the quintessence of the luxury timepiece, a tool of power for movers and shakers, the symbol of passage into adulthood. New labels pop up, styles come and go, but the brand at the top never changes. Ever the record setter—the Daytona that had belonged to Paul Newman was auctioned by Phillips in New York in October 2017 for $17.8 million—it comes as no surprise that Rolex is the most collected watch label in the world

For more than seventy-five years, Brioni has remained the go-to tailor for the world’s most iconic men. Founded in 1945 by visionary tailors Nazareno Fonticoli and Gaetano Savini, the label’s bold designs have made it a sartorial destination for Hollywood movie stars, musicians, artists and heads of state. Transforming the landscape of menswear with impeccable standards, the Brioni name quickly became synonymous with the best in masculine style. The brand sealed its reputation as an industry leader in 1952 by presenting the first ever men’s fashion show in Florence’s Palazzo Pitti. This groundbreaking collection became the benchmark for Roman tailoring and established the modern notion of elegance in menswear.

In celebration of the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the house of Dior, Assouline
introduces an unprecedented series of books devoted to each designer of the couture house, the
ultimate compendium of the most memorable haute couture creations conceived and handcrafted
by the renowned house of Dior since its inception. Featuring a wealth of beautiful photographs,
these seven impressive volumes encompass a curated selection of the house’s most iconic haute
couture designs by each of its renowned creative directors, from Christian Dior himself to the
latest, Maria Grazia Chiuri

In the age when Savile Row was synonymous with men’s style, an innovative Italian, Gaetano Savini, put his country on the map, forever reinventing menswear. From the first men’s fashion show at Florence’s Palazzo Pitti in 1952 to his craftsmanship influences still evident in today’s styles, Savini was truly a creator on the cutting edge. His legacy as the visionary and designer extraordinaire behind the Brioni luxury brand is celebrated in this spectacular illustrated edition. Highlighting examples of Savini’s innovative cuts, bold colors, and the psychedelic patterns that led the Peacock Revolution of the 1960s, The Man Who Was Brioni includes sketches and newspaper articles illustrating how the man became the legend. Replete with letters, photographs, and personal anecdotes from Savini’s daughter and Brioni heir, this volume details the brand’s far-reaching influence, and how it came to be known as “the Dior of menswear.”

Assouline’s newest collection of notebooks, composed of bold colors and a sophisticated design, offers a distinct allure unique in the realm of stationery. Reflecting the brand’s passion for fearless curiosity and an untamed imagination, each notebook cover also presents enticing titles stamped in silver foil, such as: Scandals, Temptations, Obsessions, Inspirations, Provocations, and Wild Thoughts. Featuring premium lined paper trimmed with a silver gilding on its edges, a red ribbon marker within and a soft, suede cover on the exterior- these luxury journals are available in a variety of captivating colors including: yellow, red, navy, brown, purple and leopard print.

Assouline’s newest collection of notebooks, composed of bold colors and a sophisticated design, offers a distinct allure unique in the realm of stationery. Reflecting the brand’s passion for fearless curiosity and an untamed imagination, each notebook cover also presents enticing titles stamped in silver foil, such as:Scandals, Temptations, Obsessions, Inspirations, Provocations, and Wild Thoughts. Featuring premium lined paper trimmed with a silver gilding on its edges, a red ribbon marker within and a soft, suede cover on the exterior- these luxury journals are available in a variety of captivating colors including: yellow, red, navy, brown, purple and leopard print.

Assouline’s newest collection of notebooks, composed of bold colors and a sophisticated design, offers a distinct allure unique in the realm of stationery. Reflecting the brand’s passion for fearless curiosity and an untamed imagination, each notebook cover also presents enticing titles stamped in silver foil, such as: Scandals, Temptations, Obsessions, Inspirations, Provocations, and Wild Thoughts. Featuring premium lined paper trimmed with a silver gilding on its edges, a red ribbon marker within and a soft, suede cover on the exterior- these luxury journals are available in a variety of captivating colors including: yellow, red, navy, brown, purple and leopard print.

In the highly anticipated new volume in Assouline’s bestselling Ultimate Collection, The Impossible Collection of Cigars envisions the ultimate humidor brimming with the most remarkable cigars of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries from the most prestigious makers. Like the pop of the Champagne cork, the flick of the lighter or the strike of the match and the first draw of the smoke are synonymous with celebration, relaxation, and comradery. A luxurious pause from the world around, an exceptional, hand-rolled cigar has cemented itself as a civilized passion and genteel hobby over the course of centuries.

Since its establishment in Milan in 1919 by Mario Buccellati, a jeweler’s apprentice, the famed Italian jewelry house has developed and perfected its unique goldsmithing techniques over a century. Buccellati quickly became one of Italy’s most respected jewelers, with prestigious clientele including the famous dandy and poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, the royal families of Italy, Spain and Egypt, the Pope and cardinals of Rome, and international celebrities.
Blending traditional handcraftsmanship with modern creativity for four generations, Buccellati has cultivated a singular stylistic identity. Reflecting styles from ancient Greece to the Italian Renaissance, Buccellati crafts innovative jewels and objets d’art with a rich textural quality, employing its signature engraving and chiseling techniques in precious metals set with dazzling gemstones for an extraordinary effect.
Featuring deeply researched text filled with historical insights, this volume unfolds the story of four generations of Buccellati’s trademark imaginative inspiration and fine craftsmanship, executed with intricate hand engraving and a refined aesthetic sensibility, exuding a timeless elegance that brings tradition into the modern world.

Silently stalking its way through Cartier iconography for a century, the panther is the proud leader of the pack of precious animals that make up the famous Cartier menagerie. No other creature or jewel is quite so indissolubly and emotively connected to outstanding 20th-century women of style, to ideals of modern femininity, and has become Cartier’s most iconic motif for a century. A symbol of power, seduction, and triumph since ancient times, the image of the panther never fails to arouse fantasies and dreams.
Featuring texts by art historian Bérénice Geoffroy-Schneiter, jewelry historian Vivienne Becker, jewelry expert Joanna Hardy, and fashion editor André Leon Talley, Cartier Panthère chronicles the panther in art history, the evolution of Cartier panther jewels, the techniques involved in creating a Cartier panther jewel, the influence of the panther in fashion, design, and popular culture, and includes a chronology of 100 years of Cartier panther jewels.

The French Riviera was the center of creativity during the 1920s and early ’30s. Artists and writers from the far reaches of the world gathered to fashion a new way of life—among them Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Gerald and Sara Murphy, Picasso, Picabia, Stravinsky, Cocteau, Diaghilev, and Anna de Noailles. A photobiography of this carefree era, The French Riviera in the 1920s revitalizes the now-legendary tale of these mythic personalities caught between a desire for creation, the quest for happiness, and the looming darkness of World War II. With extraordinary images taken from personal archives, these pages depict firsthand the lifestyles and artwork of some of the most influential artists o f the 20th century.

Frida Kahlo was not only an iconic artist, she was also a bold beauty and an avant-garde fashionista whose timeless sense of style continues to inspire and influence the worlds of fashion, media, and art today. Fashion is an optical effect that Frida knew how to employ with shrewd intelligence and artistic intention. Frida knew that life is theater, and fashion was her costume. Frida understood the importance of image and attitude, no matter who you are. The canvas was Frida’s mirror, and she was the painter, the model, and the painting—author, subject, medium, and object. Frida was her own best work of art.

Capri, a resort island dating back to the height of the Roman Empire, has long been an extraordinary destination full of ancient charm. Cherished by everyone from physician Axel Munthe, who recommended its clean air to his patients as a cure for bronchitis; to film director Jean-Luc Godard as the setting for his 1963 film Contempt; to literary icons, celebrities, poets, and the jet set, Capri boasts a rich Mediterranean spirit and style that encompasses a wealth of beauty, from gardens to villas to caves to the people walking in the lively Piazzetta, where cars are prohibited and the island’s playful attitude runs rampant. Capri Dolce Vita is a look at this fabled corner of the world through the ages and a celebration of paradise on earth.

From roaring nightlife to peaceful yoga retreats, Ibiza’s hippie-chic atmosphere is its hallmark. This quintessential Mediterranean hot spot has served as an escape for artists, creatives, and musicians alike for decades. It is a place to reinvent oneself, to walk the fine line between civilization and wilderness, and to discover bliss. Ibiza Bohemia explores the island’s scenic Balearic cliffs, its legendary cast of characters, and the archetypal interiors that define its signature style.

From Sofia Coppola’s luxurious family retreat in beautiful Bernalda, Italy, to the beaches of Kate Winslet’s secret Scottish hideaway of Eilean Shona, to Kate Moss’s favorite beach in the Maldives, each of these thirty-six personal tales of the loveliest spots around the globe are packed with anecdotes and lyrical descriptions to transport readers. The photography bursting across each page—from the crystal waters and azure skies of UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa, to the lush hillsides of Sri Lanka, to the hipster hangouts of Portland, Oregon—adds to the allure, inspiring a new desire to discover these beloved corners of the world.

Be it a single delicate bud in a simple clear vase or an explosion of colorful blossoms, a brilliant bouquet accents an atmosphere and brightens the mood like nothing else. The beauty of flowers has inspired artists, designers, poets, and myriad other creators for centuries: the Dutch masters of the 1600s and impressionist painters from Manet to Van Gogh, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, botanical illustrator Georg Dionysius Ehret, even the inimitable Andy Warhol. Flowers: Art & Bouquets showcases a glorious profusion of floral images and interpretations across a spectrum of artistic media and time periods. Design writer Sixtine Dubly chronicles the evolution of floral design in this remarkable compendium, which also features stunning work by more than forty contemporary floral artists in London, Paris, and New York, from minimalist to elaborate. This treasury of gorgeous imagery blooms in resplendent color before the reader’s eyes.

Italy is a country synonymous with style and beauty in all aspects of life: the rich history of Rome, Renaissance art of Florence, graceful canals of Venice, high fashion of Milan, signature pasta alla bolognese of Bologna, colorful architecture of Portofino and winking blue waters of Capri and the Amalfi Coast, among many others. Italians themselves live effortlessly amid all this splendor, knowing instinctively just the type of outfit to throw on, design element to balance, or delectable ingredient to add.
Daria Reina and Andrea Ferolla, sensitive and often nostalgic lovers of their home country, take readers on a tour of an Italian’s Italy, off the main roads traversed by tourists and onto hidden side streets or off the grid altogether, to corners lesser known but filled to bursting with the quintessential details that define timeless Italian style.

From the classic Margarita to the Love Byte, Cocktail Chameleon is award-winning designer and producer Mark Addison’s invitation to join him as he dresses up twelve cocktails in twelve unique variations for 144 signature takes on the classics. Mr. Addison tantalizes with molecular mixology to create the Anti-Gravity, instructs on how to reinvent the beloved Bloody Mary with sake, and invokes the famed royal rose garden with the Versailles. Inspiring the creative mixologist in everyone, Cocktail Chameleon will become an instant ally for hosts looking to elevate an occasion, or a much-needed companion to help unwind and end the day on a high note!
Cocktail Chameleon was awarded The Best Cocktail Book in the USA for 2017 by the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

Assouline and Chanel present a newly updated trilogy celebrating the timeless spirit, signatures, and heritage of the house of Chanel, this slipcase set includes three Mémoire volumes: Chanel Fashion, Chanel Jewelry And Watches, and Chanel Fragrance And Beauty.
-Chanel Fashion by Anne Berest
-Chanel Jewelry And Watches by Fabienne Reybaud
-Chanel Fragrance And Beauty by Marion Vignal